The Death Myth by Brian M. Rossiter

Author:Brian M. Rossiter [Rossiter, Brian M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781532034695
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2018-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

WHAT GOD HAS PUT ASUNDER, LET NO MAN JOIN TOGETHER

While the previous section makes a valid point on its own, there are further considerations that stem from it. I previously discussed the conundrum presented within the reality that neither the forces of evil nor the unrepentant currently live in hell. As a matter of logic, deceased believers are not presently living in heaven, either. But certainly, the Bible is clear that there are really only two types of people in this world—those who are going to enjoy the splendors of everlasting life with God, and those who will suffer the torments of Gehenna. I am well aware that the doctrine of universalism is now enjoying a resurgence within the church. For those who are not familiar with this belief, it essentially asserts that every person who has ever lived (or will ever live) is ultimately going to be redeemed. Some even believe that Satan will be saved before it’s all said and done.

An entire book could (and has by others) be written to refute this belief. For the sake of the nature of this book, it should suffice to say that universalism (or universal reconciliation) simply doesn’t jive with the overall testimony of the Bible. We have already seen this through evaluating Jesus’ parables of The Rich Man and Lazarus and the Weeds, both of which make clear the fact that those who live a godless life will not be saved. There are many, many other parts of Scripture that reflect the same teaching.110 Among other things, the very existence of hell negates the possibility of universalism. The Bible would never even need to talk about a realm of everlasting torment if it were not actually a possibility that anyone could exist there. Thus, the universalist’s quarrel is not with me, but with Jesus and the biblical authors. Putting that issue aside, notice once more that there are three major ways in which the Bible potentially describes the interim period:

1) We could immediately depart to heaven or hell as disembodied souls/spirits.

2) We could immediately depart to another intermediate state of existence, like Abraham’s bosom or Sheol/Hades, also as disembodied souls/spirits.

3) We could remain in an unconscious state before Christ’s coming, as our earthly bodies return to the dust and our souls return to God.

I have already addressed many of the biblical passages that speak to these possibilities, but I now ask you to imagine the logical problems that Christ’s teachings about the great judgment present within this discussion. If either of the first two possibilities are correct, how can we actually square those views with the certainty of a “judgment day?”

For anyone who takes Jesus’ teachings about heaven and hell seriously, these are sobering facts that should force us to urgently evaluate our own lives. We will either be reckoned among the righteous, or we will be party to the collection of people who have to hear these dreadful words— “depart from me, for I never knew you.”111 Of all the issues in life, there are none that even broach the importance of this situation.

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